Last Night in Brooklyn

by Xóchitl González

New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past

SPRING, 2007

At twenty-six, Alicia Canales Forten feels smothered by her future. She’s in a long-distance relationship, living at home with her mother’s beliefs, saving up for her wedding to a future doctor. But after Alicia ventures out one night in the neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, she finds herself lured by the siren song of youth and possibility that the striving crowd of creatives holds, and moves in.

No one embodies this milieu more than La Garza, a larger-than-life, up-and-coming fashion designer whose epic house parties fuel neighborhood lore. La Garza’s life, observed by Alicia from her apartment across the street, seems to hold the allure and fearlessness Alicia has never dared to imagine for herself.

But when Alicia’s wealthy banker cousin moves to the neighborhood, she finds herself increasingly drawn into both his and La Garza’s precarious lives.

Against the backdrop of a potentially life-changing presidential election and a looming once-in-a-generation fiscal crisis, Last Night in Brooklyn explores the dark compromise of the American Dream for people of color living, unknowingly, in the twilight of a cultural moment. It is a story about everything money can buy—and the destruction of what it can’t.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, New York, Adult Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2026

About the author

Xochitl Gonzalez is the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning novel Olga Dies Dreaming, the Reese’s Book Club Pick Anita de Monte Laughs Last, and her latest novel Last Night in Brooklyn. She is a contributor to The Atlantic, where she was recognized as a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist in Commentary. A native Brooklynite and proud public school graduate, Gonzalez holds a BA from Brown University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Before writing she worked as an entrepreneur, consultant, wedding planner, fundraiser, tarot reader and writer of etiquette columns. She currently lives between Brooklyn and Long Island with her dog Hectah Lavoe.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

if being nosy about my neighbors is wrong i don't wanna be right

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come)

[SH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here she goes again! Xochitl Gonzalez has a gift for writing about place and its evolution. I couldn't put this book down. From start to finish I was enchanted by the rich narration that made me feel like each of the characters was someone I knew in a past life. The point of view is reflective. Gonzalez captured that nostalgic feeling we all experience when looking back at a moment in time and seeing in hindsight how it irrevocably shaped our future. The discussions of class and gentrification were nuanced and complex in a way that mirrored things I've only felt and never been able to articulate. A masterpiece yet again.

[Book Riot Community]

Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:

Putting aside my discomfort that a historical novel can be set in 2007, this is a fantastic meditation on a very particular moment in Brooklyn history. The neighborhood where the main character, Alicia, lives is Fort Greene. She finds joy and possibility in the all-night parties thrown by her neighbor La Garza. Neither Alicia nor her friends realize that the coolness of Fort Greene is going to upend the neighborhood. Before the construction of the Barclays Center, and right at the tipping point of Brooklyn becoming expensive, Alicia and her friends and family try to find their way in NYC. —Julia Rittenberg

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a three star read for me until I realized it was a 2007 Brooklyn version (more or less) of The Great Gatsby. I appreciate it a whole lot more since making that connection. I didn’t like it as much as her other books, but that bar was pretty high!

[Scott Baird (Gunpowder Fiction and Plot)]

Dnf 25%, just not connecting with this one. I don't understand what I'm meant to want. Pretty disappointing for an author who has produced two excellent novels.

[Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of Last Night in Brooklyn, and I truly wanted to love this one. The premise intrigued me, and I went in hoping to be pulled into a compelling, emotional story. Unfortunately, despite really trying to get into it, I found myself feeling confused more often than captivated.
At times, the storyline felt somewhat disconnected, and I struggled to see how certain pieces fit together. Instead of building momentum, the plot often felt like it was wandering, which made it hard for me to stay fully invested. I also had difficulty connecting with the characters. While they were complex, they weren’t particularly likable or relatable to me, and that made it challenging to care deeply about what happened to them.
There were several moments when the pacing felt slow, and I caught myself feeling like the story was dragging on rather than moving forward. I also felt that the author relied heavily on telling instead of showing. Rather than experiencing the emotions and tension through action and dialogue, I often felt like I was being informed about them, which left me more disinterested than immersed.
While I can see that other readers may appreciate the tone and style, this one just didn’t fully work for me. Sadly, this ends up being a two-star read for me.

[justice · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Freedom is fun, except when it's lonely."

I'm not going to lie— I did not fully read the last 20 pages of this book. Still, I didn't start skimming until I was over 90% in, so I'm going to give myself credit for all that I did soldier through.

Last Night in Brooklyn is like The Great Gatsby gone wrong.

It is very hard to write a book where your protagonist is actually the least interesting person in the narrative and still make the reader care. Even the book knows Alicia isn't interesting. (See page 212: "I was not the most fun one of our group, I was not the most successful. I didn't have the hot nightclub connections or the hookups with the doormen." )

F. Scott Fitzgerald makes it work with Gatsby because:
a) the other, more interesting part is actually interesting and
b) the protagonist had a complex/compelling relationship with the other two more interesting characters

Alicia, on the other hand, had a shallow relationship with both La Garza and Devon, and, to make matters worse, the story of La Garza and Devon is relatively simple.

Sidebar, but maybe Augusts would've felt more threatening if this were a movie and the whole book wasn't reminding us on every page that he was supposed to be a villain. He felt like a silly sidekick, not a murderer in the making.

I don't know. Maybe I'm being mean. I tried with this book. I just had to accept that I didn't like it when after 190 pages in, my cousin asked me what it was about and I couldn't give her a straight answer.

[Diana]

I started and stopped this twice...just can't get into the characters or story...not even sure what the story really is 🫤

[Alicia Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/ 5

Let me start off by saying I loved Xochitl's sophomore novel Anita De Monte Laughs Last. When I saw she was coming out with a new book I dove in without knowing a single thing about the premise of Last Night in Brooklyn.

Without knowing much about where the story was heading, I knew a few short chapters in that I would love Last Night in Brooklyn. I haven't read Olga Dies Dreaming YET but from these last two novels of hers, I can say Gonzalez has a talent in bringing communities and periods alive. This is clear from Last Night in Brooklyn. Although we are mainly following two central characters , the novel is a kaleidoscope of voices and elements of the 2000s Brooklyn era.

Set against the backdrop of 2007 Brooklyn, Alicia's life is irrevocably changed when she meets an up and coming designer named La Garza. Alicia's once ordinary life is thrusted into La Garza's circle, a woman who seems to embody everything Alicia has ever wanted.

Gonzalez explores identity, gentrification and the cost of the American Dream.

Notes on the audiobook:
Length: 6 hours and 37 minutes
Narrated by: Elizabeth Rodriguez

I listened to the audiobook at 1.25x speed.

The narrator did an incredibly job bringing this story to life. The cadence of the narration really lended itself to the storytelling making it feel like you are chatting with a close friend over coffee or drinks as they fill you in on the latest story of their life. Elizabeth shifts her tone and cadence to match the large cast of characters in the novel. She also breathes authenticity into her narration bringing each character to life.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listener's copy of Last Night in Brooklyn.

[Kristine]

I like Xóchitl González as a writer. Her prior books and I found compelling.

I always like reading books set in Brooklyn, NY as I have been there so many times. Looking forward to this new book coming out next year, April 7, 2026.

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes lives that are totally foreign tome. But the characters were interesting and the writing was really good. I may have to read “Olga Dies Dreaming”.

[Kaitlyn Chiodo · Rating 4 out of 5]

my dear close personal friend xochitl gonzalez (I don’t know her i’ve just read all her books and love them) has done it again!! this was truly her love letter to Brooklyn 🥹. learned a lot as well and some really interesting themes as well!

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Report: Last Night in Brooklyn by Xóchitl Gónzalez

Alicia is 26 and standing at the edge of a life that already feels decided…living at home…planning a wedding…following the safe path laid out for her. But one night in Fort Greene changes everything. Pulled into a magnetic circle of creatives…excess and ambition…she becomes fascinated by the life unfolding across the street…especially La Garza…a bold…intoxicating fashion designer who seems to embody everything Alicia has never dared to want. As money…desire and identity collide Alicia is forced to confront what the American Dream really costs and who it leaves behind.

This is Xóchitl González’s third novel and somehow she keeps raising the bar. I loved Olga Dies Dreaming…was blown away by Anita de Monte Laughs Last and Last Night in Brooklyn completely floored me. In under 256 pages…she weaves together class…culture…ambition and longing with such precision…all through unforgettable voices and a vividly drawn Brooklyn on the brink of change. I recommend giving this one a few extra pages to really sit with what’s quietly unfolding. Every one of her books has been a five-star read for me, and I’m already counting down to whatever she writes next.

Thank you Flatiron Books || Macmillan Audio for the ARC

Releases 4/21

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I needed to read at 26.

I am a longtime fan of Xochitl’s writing but this one hit it out of the park. It’s a relatively simpler novel, compared to Olga and Anita? But nevertheless, absolutely STELLAR💫

I can’t explain how well she captured the complicates emotional truth of friendship and admiration between young women. What it is like to feel free on an evening out on the dance floor (nothing like it). Both the driving energy and recklesss paralysis that comes with craving that release and attention. What it is like to live vicariously through the last precipice of hope before everything changes, something that stirred some intense nostalgia and a true shadow of what I am witnessing in my own hometown today. There is just so much to talk about. It is truly a phenomenon of a book that captures Brooklyn at its finest and its coolest - perhaps the best, last, classic New York Novel.

[Meghan Vanderstelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Flatiron Bookd for the ARC of Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez. This was a vivid and character-driven read. The author’s voice is sharp, modern, and emotionally rich, pulling you straight into the rhythm of Brooklyn life. The characters were easily the standout for me—complex, flawed, and full of depth in a way that made every interaction feel real. The flow felt a little choppy despite the fast clip of the book but overall well done in a way that is so fresh and modern. Gonzalez excels again.

[Grace Kibira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely inhaled this book and wish there were 900 more chapters. The writing is so vivid and somehow fully captures the feeling of Brooklyn nights and the magic of NYC in such a real way. I'm a Fort Greene transplant, and got the tail end of (my generations') true bk&ny summer experience before covid, so the novel's description of "unknowingly, in the twilight of a cultural moment." resonates for me in ways I dont even know how to articulate! The audiobook was spectacular. It was so special knowing the streets and corners and bars and VIBES highlighted. I went on walks around the neighborhood picturing it through Alicia's eyes.

I knew I was going to love this book, Anita De Monte Laughs Last is a book that has stuck with me, that I recommend and reference almost daily. And Last Night In Brooklyn is going to be the same. Xóchitl González you have a fan in me forever.

"Brooklyn used to be known as the city of churches, thats how many houses of worship there once were here. And for this congregation, the dance floor was for the believers and the DJ was giving a sermon" SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LINE WHO CAN COME UP WITH THINGS LIKE THAT.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

A novel that tackled the gentrification of Brooklyn and the turning point for the borough was a great premise. I thought the story was about developing the Barclays center but it wasn’t. It took way too long to get there. It’s just a badly written novel so as simple as the grammar and vocabulary was, the shallow plot moved like slop. People comparing this to the Great Gatsby can look at clouds and see anything suggested to them.

[em · Rating 2 out of 5]

i keep getting catfished by books!!!!!!! i start it and get soooo into it, only to be let down! i am so tired!!!!!!!!!!

i should've known going into this one that i wasn't going to like it. i HATED 'olga dies dreaming', but i figured it was a me thing. that maybe i could get myself to enjoy this once since i thought the premise was interesting, and ngl it had me in the first half. and then i really don't know what happened but i was rolling my eyes by the end.

this book is a self-proclaimed gatsby retelling which it really does follow to a t as far as plot goes. however any reader or lover of gatsby can attest to this-- the story works because of so much more. you can take the same plot points and transfer it to a different book, but you can't call it the great gatsby. i can't really put into words why it didn't work, but i think if you're familiar with gastby and then read this, you'll understand what i mean. this was like if the original had all the heart and life and yearning sucked out of it. a gray, boring, lifeless attempt at a carbon copy.

i will say; the one thing this work had in common with the original was the fact that every single character was a terrible person (except gastby, imo). i haateddddd alicia and her constant back-and-forth bullshit and her selfishness and she was supposed to be the most moral character in the book. everyone else was annoying, unrealistic, and written like npcs, doing EXACTLY what you'd expect.

the setting being 2007 nyc on the precipice of the presidential election/financial crisis also did nothing for me and honestly felt like an easy backdrop for the author to use but never really get in to.

the writing style/voice also left much to be desired. literally had to go back and re-read certain sentences because i thought i was having a stroke. probably why it took me so long to get through. such clunky and unnecessary wording.

okay last thing. this is petty, but wtf is this quote: "Yes, ma'am", he said to me with that politeness the miliary seems to instill in people". what in the military propaganda is this ????

there's probably more about this book that upset me, but that's all i can think of for right now.

lowkey pissed off at this book. jay gatsby, my baby, they did you so dirty.

[Kathleen Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a book for a new yorker. it’s beautiful, the story itself, the writing and the nostalgia of it all that all feels so true and accessible. loved it

[Angelica Santos · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read a story set in Brooklyn in the 2000s from the perspective of people of color, but this fell so flat for me. The author did a lot of telling, so I didn’t feel immersed or emotionally connected to the setting as intended. It didn’t help that the characters were unlikeable and felt one-dimensional despite the complex backgrounds the author gave them.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I feel like I needed to be a New Yorker to truly appreciate it. I didn’t care about any of the characters and found the story quite boring.

[julia jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨ there was a lot here that I don’t believe the summary of the book encapsulated. In addition to the themes of gentrification, identity, & of the American dream that touch all of Gonzalez’s books, this one explored intersectionality of race & class dynamics and belonging.

Last Night in Brooklyn is narrated as if it’s an elder recalling a period of promise that was filled with betrayal and despair. I felt disconnected with Alicia to the point I thought “who’s alicia” for a moment when Matteo addresses her. She was just the steward of the story of Devon & La Garza which I believe worked relatively well. This is a short book (~230 pages). While there were engaging moments, most of the time just felt like wandering/meandering through.

It’s been a long time since I read the Great Gatsby, but noticed a few reviews calling this Gatsby but in Brooklyn & I definitely see the parallels.

No one talks about gentrification in novels I read like Gonzalez. It’s clear that for her it’s personal as someone who grew up in Brooklyn. I appreciate her prose on the subject & would want a book diving into it more perhaps. She touched on urban planning in the beginning as part of the education of a developer. Clearly posed as the bad guy. I’d love to see a perspective of one of her characters entering this field of urbanism and giving back to/protecting/uplifting the neighborhood they know so deeply. Perhaps as an urban planner myself this is my skewed perspective, but it feels on brand for her. Regardless of what she writes next, I’m sure I will read it

—————————

• “It was about who gets to decide something is valuable and something else worthless. It was as much about how the shots get called as it was about the shots themselves…It was because one day it's Freddy's-some other guy's watering hole-and the next day it could be yours. Or your house. Or your block. Or the neighborhood you'd always called home. Taken. Without one word of your say in the matter. Because suddenly, what you had what you cherished and loved that had been shat on and forgotten by everybody? Well, suddenly, it has value. It is deemed nice. And apparently, it was decreed—by those unknown kings appointed to discern such things-that we didn't deserve nice things” (p.2)

• “Those who've never suffered often mistake scars of survival for defects.”

[Janelle Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Those who have never suffered often mistake signs of survival for defects.”

This book solidified Xochitl Gonzalez’s status as an auto-buy author for me!!
Her writing speaks to my very soul. She articulates the feelings of existing within class, racial, and economic desparities with such care and authenticity - but does so without talking down to the reader or taking them out of the narrative.
Her books feel like talking chisme with your best friend. The character arcs are juicy and chaotic, but also real as hell as they face the difficult and emotional struggles of living in this world.
Gonzalez writes about bad*ss latinas who face really hard sh*t head-on with tenacity, determination, and a whole lot of love. And I always feel so damn seen when I read her books. I will read everything this woman writes. 🙌

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[bri · Rating 1 out of 5]

so glad I didn’t spend 30 on this and instead just supported my library. I’m so sick of books doing nothing and when the opportunity arises for them to TELL A STORY instead they just start a new paragraph or chapter with a giant update. Don’t pmo. IM DONE BEING NICE IM HANDING OUT ONE STARS LIKE COOKIES

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is set mainly over the course of one eventful summer in 2007 from the perspective of a woman named Alicia - she’s in her 20s during that summer but the book is told from her perspective sometime later looking back at that time. Among other things, Alicia begins to question her long distance relationship with her fiancé, meets neighborhood fixture and up and coming famous fashion designer La Garza, gets caught up in her cousin’s love life, and more.

Early on, I was really enjoying the story and writing, but kind of wondering what the book was about. Well, a little before the halfway point I suddenly realized that the book was an homage to The Great Gatsby (with La Garza as Gatsby), and then I realized how brilliant the book was and became totally obsessed with it. It’s certainly not a beat for beat retelling but plays with some of the same themes of class, love, and obsession. But this one also brings in so much more, including issues of gentrification and race. And Alicia has a lot more going on and is much more of a character in her own story than narrator Nick is in The Great Gatsby. And as a huge fan of Gonzalez’s book Anita De Monte Laughs Last, I also love that Raquel from that book makes an appearance in this one!

I mostly listened to this one on audio and narrator Elizabeth Rodriguez was so fantastic and truly brought the story to life. However, I also borrowed the ebook from the library and enjoyed having access to that - both to appreciate the quality of the writing but because when I figured out the Gatsby connection I had to skim re-read the entire part I had already read!

4.25 stars

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my copy of the audiobook; all opinions are my own.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great Gatsby retelling with a decidedly Brooklyn twist. Why, thank you. I was immediately intrigued and then Xóchitl González pulls it off with such an accurate sense of place that blew me away.

Brooklyn has always been a place for dreamers. Immigrants and first generation Americans made it their home with neighborhoods taking on the cultural identity of its residents. Regardless of whether you were in Puerto Rican Fort Greene, Italian Gravesend or Bensonhurst, or Jewish Borough Park; Manhattan was always aspirational, but Brooklyn remained home. González captures this nuance to perfection.

The novel centers on Alicia Canales Forten whose background straddles two cultures; one of privilege and the other from the streets. Alicia faces the push-pull of traditions and expectations versus a world of lavish parties and excess. The characters are richly drawn pulling the reader into the story as each pursues their version of the American Dream.

The audiobook is narrated by Elizabeth Rodriguez who absolutely brings her A game delivering a performance that oozes authenticity. (This Brooklyn native cannot abide a poorly executed Brooklyn accent.) I was completely immersed and transported to the Brooklyn I know and love. Hands down, a superb performance.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio gif the gifted advance copies. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez.
Alicia is at a cross roads in her life and so is her city. With Brooklyn becoming the next IT spot to live those who are from there are being pushed out. I felt such a pull to this "historical" time, understanding how family, friends and success combine to seek out your own sense of place. When Alicia actually meets La Garza a glamorous designer, secrets are revealed. Brooklyn was like any small town, everyone knows one another, and nothing is truly put in the past.
This had me thinking of choices, consequences and the meaning of true happiness by the end.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, atmospheric Gatsby retelling in 2007 Brooklyn.

[Suzy Steinhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pure 2000s nostalgia. Everything about it was a reminder of the decade. The audiobook is well narrated and it’s easy to follow (unlike some audiobooks). Highly recommend!